7.62x39 20" vs 22" feedback

[Goo98]

That's an interesting fact about the Yugo SKS. Does the literature you read mention the reason their army went with the 22"?

Not sure but the Yugos developed the tabuk sniper rifle for Iraq and also gave it a 22” barrel

 

[Scarb67]

I have the Howa 20” heavy barrel in a walnut stock with Jefferson aluminium bottom metal and a Leupold VX2 in QRW rings. Weighs 7.5lb scoped with an empty mag.
Balance is perfect for me with the heavy barrel adding a little forward weight which helps for offhand shooting and allows a few more shot strings at the range without losing POI. Trigger is good.
Have taken two deer in the woods, both within 100yds, no issues and no tracking needed. I didn’t find the 20” barrel a hindrance to manoeuvring.

Keep thinking of trying out a CZ in same chambering, but every time I handle the Howa, I can’t help feeling I’d be downgrading. The Howa action/bolt is all steel with no plastic, where as both Ruger and CZ have a bunch of plastic/aluminium parts.

I also have a Ruger Ranch in 5.56. Handy little gun, but quality is certainly below the Howa.

After a couple several responses neutralizing my sway toward the 22".

I put a 20" heavy barrel in the cart, but held off purchasing to look into direct mount rings.
To look at a walnut version, in person today. To see that 1 specimen, and measure the chamber top opening width to make sure what scope length I'll need if I want to stay with a 2 piece scope mount. Keeping the top loading option more easily usable.

Got home to see a couple positive responses to the 22" barrel.
So I'm back to the again. But a little more free thinking about that barrel length fret.

Did you bother to add any extra wood protection to your gun for the hunting weather, or dampness in the maritimes?

 

[Goo98]

After a couple several responses neutralizing my sway toward the 22".

I put a 20" heavy barrel in the cart, but held off purchasing to look into direct mount rings.
To look at a walnut version, in person today. To see that 1 specimen, and measure the chamber top opening width to make sure what scope length I'll need if I want to stay with a 2 piece scope mount. Keeping the top loading option more easily usable.

Got home to see a couple positive responses to the 22" barrel.
So I'm back to the again. But a little more free thinking about that barrel length fret.

Did you bother to add any extra wood protection to your gun for the hunting weather, or dampness in the maritimes?

Reconsider direct mount rings, you'll might need a scope base that has a 20 moa or more forward cant perhaps depending on your optic and desired range

 

[Scarb67]

Reconsider direct mount rings, you'll might need a scope base that has a 20 moa or more forward cant perhaps depending on your optic and desired range

I was thinking of a <50mm scope for the <200 intended targeting, and weight savings.
The scope mounting height was another reason I backed up from finalizing my rifle order though.
Was going to order medium height as recommended by scopes I was browsing.
But decided to put high height ones in the cart for now, just in case.
Figuring cheek pieces are common enough...

 

[Scarb67]

I went for the Howa 22” and even replaced the magazine trigger guard with the Jefferson hinged floorplate internal mag.
If you wanna maximize potential velocity you’ll need the 22”.

On a side note the grenade launcher Yugo sks has a 22” barrel.

What stock did you go with for that Howa 22"

 

[Goo98]

What stock did you go with for that Howa 22"

the regular plastic one that came with it

 

[homer76]

https://rifleshooter.com/2016/01/7-62x39-mm-russian-effects-of-barrel-length-on-velocity/

 

[Scarb67]

https://rifleshooter.com/2016/01/7-62x39-mm-russian-effects-of-barrel-length-on-velocity/

From that particular test session.
The answer to my initial question was 40+ fps.
And YRMV.
Luckily the odd jump of the extra 50fps at 23" for that Brown Bear stuff is outside the available barrel lengths anyway.

 

[mbogo3]

Way too much obsessing over barrel length and profile. It's a 200 meter deer gun .Moose have also been taken .

 

[Buck1950]

My Ruger Am Ranch G-1 is 16" and gets ca MOA out to 200 with Barnaul SP, just using 'hold over' on reticle. Zeroed at 100 Y. I haven't gone to a longer range site.

 

[I Dont Care About You]

on another note the accuracy from a sks will cause more of a spread in where the bullet will impact them a 2 " difference on bbl length

Darn it, you beat me to my rant about the cr@p accuracy of the SKS making it statistically impossible to determine such a small difference in drop at the distance a 762x39 would be capable at.

OP: Do yourself a favour and get past the 762x39. Buy something modern in 308 or 65CR and you will never regret that.

 

[CaribooBC]

I am getting 2200fps out of an 18" barrel in my CZ 600 Alpha. Using RL7, Norma brass, 123 gr SSTs and CCI 200 primers. No need to go longer as my accuracy is very good and what else would you want for speed for 7.62x39.

 

[homer76]

I am getting 2200fps out of an 18" barrel in my CZ 600 Alpha. Using RL7, Norma brass, 123 gr SSTs and CCI 200 primers. No need to go longer as my accuracy is very good and what else would you want for speed for 7.62x39.

I find this thread interesting. I'm getting 2195 fps from my 18.6" 300 blackout using H110 and 125 gr Speer TNT HPs and I'm 0.5 grains below the maximum recommended powder charge.

 

[jparent]

For that cartridge, I would personally prefer the shortest barrel possible that didn’t hinder the cartridge. If Ruger made the American Ranch with a 12” barrel for x39, 300 Blackout or 350 legend, I would be all over one.